Trump plans on sending USD300 million worth of arms to Ukraine

(MENAFN) President Donald Trump has decided to send approximately $300 million worth of weapons to Ukraine using the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter. This marks the first time Trump has personally authorized the direct transfer of weapons from U.S. military stockpiles since taking office.

Until now, the Trump administration had only continued deliveries approved during Joe Biden’s presidency. The PDA allows the president to quickly dispatch military aid in emergencies, bypassing congressional approval.

The package is expected to include Patriot air defense systems and medium-range missiles. The decision comes after the Pentagon recently paused some arms deliveries over concerns about diminishing U.S. reserves—an action reportedly taken by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth without Trump’s input.

Earlier this week, Trump confirmed plans to send more weapons to Ukraine, a move echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the earlier delivery pause had been “mischaracterized.”

Throughout his campaign, Trump had criticized Biden’s open-ended military aid to Ukraine and referred to President Vladimir Zelensky as “the greatest salesman on Earth” for securing continued support from Democrats.

Ukraine remains in urgent need of military assistance as its forces lose territory to Russia and struggle to mobilize new troops. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Western countries sending arms to Ukraine are, in Moscow’s view, direct participants in the conflict.

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